Hat stretcher and shaper



D. FREEDLINE.

Patented Aug 15, 1922. 2 suns-mam 2.

DAVID FREEDLINE, IBIt-QOKIEX'N, NEW YORK.

HAT sranr naa AND sHArER.

Application filed June 9, 1921. Serial No. 176,209.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID FREEDLINE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough otBroole lyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented a new and lin proved Hat Stretcher and Shaper, ofwhich the following is a description.

My invention relates to hat shapers and stretchers for shaping a hat to conform it to the individual shape of the cranium.

The invention has for an important object to provide a device of the indicat'ed char acterhaving increased possibilities in localized adjustments of the shaping and stretch ing elements to very effectivelyconform the hat to the peculiarities of conformation in a particular cranium.

The invention has also for an object to provide a practical embodiment of the invention reflecting practical considerations with respect to the convenience and speed of adjustment, as well as to promote facility on the front flange 25 provided on the guide of operation. I

The nature of theinvention, its distlnctive features and characteristics, as wellas other objects of the invention will clearly appear as the description proceeds.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, it being understood that the drawin'gs are merely illustrative of one example of the invention.v

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved hat stretcher and shaper;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional side el'e'-' vation of a portion of the same on the line 22, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail in vertical sectionon the line 33 of Figure l;'

Figure dis an'e'n'larged side elevation of a portion of the hat'stretcher and shaper showing more particularly the latch pawl provided on each screw rod; Figure 5 is. a detail in horizontal section given to show the"lateralmovement of the screw rod with the angular adjustment of individual stretching and. shaping elements as well as the space provided to'aflord clearance for said movement;

Figure 6 is a pers ective view of one of the individual stretc ing and shaping elements. 4

In carrying out my invention in accordance with the illustrated example a suitable frame or body 10 is provided in which are approximately radial slots 11 to afford clearance torthe dependin shanks 13 of I the individual stretching and shaping ele ments 12. Said shanks 13 have transverse threaded holes lei therein with which screws 15 for operatingthe slide have threaded engagement, said 1 screws having squared ends to receive a key or equivalentturning means. The elements 12 are disposed above the top of the body 10 and the shanks 13 extend downwardly through holes 16 in slide plates 17 that rest on shoulders 11 formed int-he body lOat the slots 11-as shown in Figure 3.

The screws 15'extend freely through tubular guide elements'18 which are disposed in the slots 11, the lower portion 11 of each slot being widened or under-cut asbest seen 111 F1gure5. The outerportion of the screw 18101111661 with parallel annular ratchet members 19 adapted to be engaged by a latch pawl 20 provided for each screws said pawl being pivoted near one-end as at 21,

element 18. The opposite end of the pawl 20 has a suitable handle 22 and a spring 23 bears against the underside of the pawl in a notch 20Ptherein, said spring being-secured to or engaged by a pin 24 on said flange 25. 0n the flange 25 at thel'ower: edge is an inwardly directed: guide member 26 extending beneath'the body 10. "The tubular guide element 18 is made flat toreston the body .10 at: the bottom ofthe slot. 11, the flat form and the member 26 preventing turning movement of said'element. 18, in re- I sponse :to the'turning of the screw 15.

With the describedarrangement the turning of the screw 15 about its own axisbya detachable crank handle (not shown) or other means, applied to. the squaredouter' end thereof willcause the element 12 engaged thereby andv the slide 17 associated I with said element to have sliding movement radially inward or outward to efiect a stretching-actionbn the hat. The latch 20 it serves to hold the screw in a given approximate adjustment after a sliding axial movement of the-screw and element 12, In ad-: -ditionto its axial movement the screw15 may be swung through an arc in the widened or under-cut lower portion 11" of the slot 11 from one side of said slot to the other as will be clear from Figure 1, the swinging movement being about the vertical axis of the element 12. The swinging of the screw turns the shank 13 and the shaping element 12 correspondingly to thereby vary the angular position of element 12 to better conform the hat to the conformation of the cranium at a local point.

In the present example of my invention 1 provide a coiled spring cable 27 as the means for holding the several guide elements 18 in position by preventing radial movement thereof, said cable being secured to the body at the rim thereof by eyes or keepers $28 on said body between adjacent guides 18.

The numeral 50 indicates a crescentic auxiliary shaping element adapted to be disposed outside of any three of the elements 1 i, the novelty of said ai 'liary shaping element as illustrated, residng in locking lugs 51 at the interior of said auxiliary element and directed radially inward, said lugs being positioned to be entered between adjacent elements 12.

I would state in conclusion that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention, 1 do not limit 5; myself strictly to the mechanical details herein illustrated, since manifestly the same can be considerably varied without departuretrom the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1. claim:

1. A hat stretcher and shaper including a' series of individual stretching and shaping elements, and screws on which said elements are mounted, said screws being adapted to have relative approximately radial movement and being angularly adjustable individually to vary the angular positions of said elements.

2. A hat stretcher and shaper including stretching and shaping elements mounted for individual sliding movement, and separate screws having threaded engagement with the individual elements, said screws being movable axially to impart sliding movement to the elements and swingable laterally to cause said elements to have movement about a vertical axis.

3. A hat stretcher and shaper including separate stretching elements, screws having threaded engagement with said elements, for causing travel of said elements on the screws 1 byv a turning of the latter, and guides through which said screws pass, said screws being movable axially through said guides 1 ,esaess swinging movement to the screws for varying the angular positions of said elements.

4. A hat stretcher and shaper comprising a body having radial slots undercut at their lower portions, at each side of the medial planes of the respective slots, slides on said body at the slots, stretching and shaping elements disposed above the body and having shanks extending downwardly through said slots, screws having threaded engagement with the shanks of the stretching and shaping elements, and tubular guides into which said screws may have turning and axial movement, said slides being movable laterally in. the undercut portions of the slots to swing the screws laterally for varying the angular positions of said elements.

5. A hat stretcher and shaper comprising a body having radial slots undercut at their lower portions, ateach side of the medial plane of the respective slots, slides on said body at the slots, stretching and shaping ele ments disposed above the body and having shanks extending downwardly through said slots, screws having threaded engagement withthe shanks of the stretching and shaping elements, and tubular guides into which said screws may have turning and axial movement, said guides being movable laterally in the undercut portions of the slots to swing the screws laterally for varying the angular positions of said elements; together with pivoted spring-pressed latches on the.

guides, the screws having annular rigid members engageable by said latches.

6. A hat stretcher and shaper comprising a body, stretching and shaping elements slidable on said body, screws for determining the positions of said elements, guides through which said screws extend, and a flexible cable extending about said body and outside of said guides to retain the latter in position.

7. In a hat stretcher and shaper, a series of individual stretching and shaping elements, and an auxiliary stretching and shaping element adapted to lie outside. of a. plurality of the first-mentioned elements and having members thereon directed approximately radially inward to enter between the adjacent ends of the first-mentioned elements.

DAVID FREEDLINE. 

